NYI at PHOENIX, 9:05 pm EST
Sillinger’s example of perserverance and dedication
Whether or not he plays another game in the NHL - and I’m fairly certain, sadly, he has played his last - Mike Sillinger deserves the Masterton Trophy for more than 1,000 games of perserverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
At age 37, Sillinger attempted to play a 17th NHL season after rehabilitating from microfracture hip surgery. After playing a few games for the Islanders this season, he missed a week with a groin injury. But when he went on the IR on Tuesday, the club termed it “a hip injury.” You don’t have to be any kind of surgeon to know where this story is headed.
If the game on Monday night against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden proves to be Sillinger’s 1,049th and last, the record will show he left courageously. Trying to battle his way through the pain his Colorado surgeon told him he’d have to endure for a while, Sillinger scored the game’s opening goal off a feed from his young pal and protege Trent Hunter. For the superb faceoff man and two-way center, it was the 240th goal of his NHL career.
The Masterton Trophy was established 40 years ago to honor careers that exemplified dedication to hockey. But over the last 15 years or so - beginning with former Islanders goalie Mark Fitzpatrick - the sentiment has changed. While all of their comebacks were admirable and uplifting, players such as Bryan Berard, Jason Blake, Phil Kessel and Saku Koivu have received the Masterton by overcoming serious injuries and illnesses to continue their chosen careers. It makes you wonder how the Professional Hockey Writers Association got off-track and re-interpreted the meaning of the Masterton.
The award used to go to stalwarts such as Eddie Westfall and Butch Goring, Lanny McDonald and Dave Taylor, Jean Ratelle and Doug Jarvis. In other words, the Masterton Trophy was created to honor “perserverance, dedication and sportsmanship” with players like Mike Sillinger exactly in mind.
You know all about the league-record times Sillinger was traded. Now consider - look it up - that every time he was dealt his old team never had a bad word to say about him, or he about his team. Now that’s a record.
If his career is over, Sillinger’s 141 games on the Island will be just 14 shy of his most with any of his 12 NHL teams. He played 155 with Columbus. You want dedication? How about Sillinger agreeing to play three games this season on a conditioning stint in Bridgeport, his first trip to the American Hockey League in 15 years?
Quick story: when Sillinger last played in the “A,” in 1992-93, he had 30 points in 15 games. Before he left for Bridgeport, I kidded that he’d never keep up that scoring pace. In his first game with the Sound Tigers the old son-of-a-gun had three assists. “Take that! I exceeded my pace,” he said with the exuberance of a rookie.
His lack of a Stanley Cup ring does not take away from a career that has been remarkable in every sense of the word. Give Mike Sillinger the Masterton. And put his wife Karla’s name on there, too.
ETC: Joey MacDonald and Rick DiPietro are still the only two Islanders goalies in Phoenix…DiPietro practiced with the team Thursday. So did Trent Hunter, who told me after the game on Wednesday that he couldn’t breathe for several seconds after the hit and collision with the open door at the Garden…Mitch Fritz cleared waivers and is now with Bridgeport.
Greg Logan is the only reporter on this four-game Western swing. Between the travel and the time difference, there’s an excellent chance Greg’s going to get some news before I do. While I’ll do my best to stir it up from the home office, you’ll want to regularly check out Greg’s blog throughout the trip. Actually, you’ll always want to regularly check out Greg’s blog.
Comments.
69 Responses to “NYI at PHOENIX, 9:05 pm EST
Sillinger’s example of perserverance and dedication”
Please Wait
Couldn’t agree more no matter what interpretation of the Masterton Trophy standards are used. It’ll be a shame to lose him.
Great suggestion CB! I’ve always admired Sillinger’s hard work and his perseverance through his latest injury. Not to mention his dedication to the organization. I only met the man once, and while I didn’t know him, he was very nice to join in my conversation and joke around with me. Here’s to #18!
I remember when Silli came into the league on a loaded Detroit team and saying to a friend that this Mike Sillinger seemed to be the one of few and far between Red Wings picks that was a bust…well he was traded shortly after that to the Mighty Ducks and well here he is 1000+ games later…that my friends is perserverance and dedication.
If this is the end, I raise my glass to a true professional and a perfect example of the true character of hockey players everywhere.
he will be missed. he better get the trophy.
amen.
my family and i always thought he would make a great coach, maybe that’s a path he could take. but hey anything can happen, hope the hip gets as good as it can get
why are players having so many hip surgeries lately? Paul Kariya is the latest player who is apparently going to have hip surgery…are all of these surgeries really necessary? isn’t there a more conservative and less invasive way to treat these injuries and/or alleviate painful conditions?
i’ll miss sillinger but this isn’t a surprise. at least he scored a goal in this last game. hopefully the isles can keep him in the organization in some capacity,
The injuries are caused by too much stretching of their joints prior prior to exertion.
This is done supposedly in the name of flexibility… but in reality they are weakening the soft tissue connections -(tendon and ligament insertions in the bone)
Then, when there is high intensity exertion ie: game speed… the connections are already compromised causing partial tissue tearing and further weakening until there is a significant or complete tear or strain/sprain of the entire musculo/tendon/ligament complex.
BUT, every trainer, physical therapist, strength coach, stick/equipment manager, zamboni driver, ticket sales agent and ice girl will continue to repeat the MANTRA that you must stretch stretch and stretch some more to increase your flexibility. At what price though…?
It’s unnecessary to do so to the extent in which the pro-athlete and amateur athlete continues to do.
DOC
So…..when do Sillinger and Trottier open the Centerman/Faceoff School?
Can’t think of two better professors.
First enrollees…..Bailey, Neilsen, Comeau. (Yes, I said Comeau)
Upon graduation the Isles are set down the middle for 10+ years.
Godspeed Mike Sillinger…….
Hopefully Sillinger gets to play in game 1050 before he has to call it quits. I kind of figured this would be his last season, but I’m glad that he may be ending his career with the Islanders.
Salute Suitcase Sillinger!
Good luck Silly- I’m feeling you with the hip injury. Sorry to see it end this way for you, but you can still have a life in hockey. Teach the kids to be more like you- professional in every way. YOU are the epitome of a pro. This organization would be wise to keep you on staff.
Good luck to Sillinger! May he return healthy (next year) even if he needs the rest of the year off.
However, this does not bode well for Comrie and DiPietro… didn’t they have similar microfracture surgery?
Anyway, I hate to kick a man in the teeth especially during Holiday season… but if Hunter returns tonight… can we please leave Trevor Smith in the line-up and sit Sim permanently???
DOC
Silli is a good man. Silli has worn the islanders crest with pride during some very tough stretches. You cant ask for more than that. I wish him the best
Wasn’t Silli a Neil Smith signing? Thanks Neil for bringing a class act to L.I.
If Sillinger is hanging ‘em up I echo the sentiment above about the organization keeping him around. They’d be “Silli” not to.
i just wish he couldve gotten 14 more games this season, so we could be his longest tenured team
Let’s not be too quick to dismiss Silli JUST yet…….
But I say “me too” in echoing the thought that Mike Sillinger is a class act and wore the Isles uniform with pride.
He is also a pretty good player to boot! and we will miss him ON the ice too.
If this is it for him - he had a good run.
I hope its not over for him - it must be so hard to “go out on YOUR terms”. How many people really get to do that?
Pat
505 - you think Comeau should play center? I thought he looked good there last year in very limited time. Could be a good playmaking center, if they decided to go that route.
On Sillinger - he’s the man. Been my favorite active Islander since about halfway through his first season here.
Silly will be missed if he did indeed played his last game!!!
wow! I hope he gets something for all his hard work an years of dedication to his teams. He truly is a class act, I hope he gets to play 1050 games and scores a goal!
Best Wishes to Him an his family
I also hope that we’ll see Sillinger on ice again. He’s been nothing but great out there for us, at least that’s what I saw everytime.
And if he is done, he did have a great run, absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Over a 1000 NHL games, over 200 goals, how many faceoffs did this guy win?!?!?! … I’m just saying
P.S. - seeing how Wang likes to hire his former players (err… goalies)… I really hope he keeps Sillinger after he retires to share his insight on winning faceoffs with our youth… Bailey, Colliton, Joensuu, Nielsen, Walter, etc… I’m not saying they all need serious help winning a faceoff, but image them with Silli’s ability? I’m just saying
Star-Tribune reports that Gaborik is the latest player facing potential season-ending hip surgery…this hip surgery stuff is getting ridiculous…I never remember this many players having hip injuries and getting hip surgery…either the training methods are screwed up or these surgeries are being recommended too aggressively…there doesn’t seem to be any concern for whether these surgeries are successful long-term…maybe CB can interview a specialist and do a story on this?
I mean, come on. Sillinger, just like any other athlete, played this season for the paycheck. He thought collecting his couple of million was worth risking injury. He is making the most money of his life, that’s why he is playing. I like the guy, but I’m not going to give him an award for being paid a few million dollars.
lovely thought, Jon. He would have paid anyway if he chose not to play. I mean, come on. Does everything have to be depressing?…CB
I’m not counting Sillinger out yet, the guy isn’t going down without a fight. I hope he comes back, if he doesn’t he’ll always be an Islander.
Thanks Mr Sillinger!
The way I will always remember Sillinger is when Trent Hunter was doing all he could to contain Crosby behind the net and he got the puck up to Sillinger off the wall and he went in and blasted that slapshot past Fleury with 14 seconds left in the game. It’s ingrained in my mind. I will miss him. Glad he scored in his last game.
What a shame about Sillinger. He obviously wants to play and has been so patient.:(
I wish him a sense of peace with whatever the decision turns out to be, a feeling of satisfaction when he looks back on his career, and a future of great opportunity.
Sillinger is a class act for sure and certainly Masterton worthy, but still Teppo Numminen would be my first choice for this years Masterton. Over 1300 games in the NHL and coming back this season after a heart surgery to repair a faulty valve is just more incredible than Silly’s hip.
Dallas Mac….that was the best Sillinger moment during his Islanders career….it was a huge goal during an exciting time for Islanders fans.
I’ll also remember the goal he scored against St. Louis off a pass from Ryan Smyth, in Smyth’s fist game as an Islander.
Good Luck Silli if this is indeed the end.
For the sake for his wife and his children, call it quits Silli please? No one wants to have a father or a husband walking with a cane or in a scooter for the rest of his life. Take a spot behind the bench after a few years rest. We will welcome you back with open arms.
Good point JK (comment 29). Have to agree with you
very good guy. awesome 3rd or 4th line center on a good team. he was our first line center though, which is precisely why we are a joke…i do wish him well, but with a few mill in the bank and a wife that looks like that, im sure he will be just fine…
Anybody who takes a shot at the team or Sillinger in reaction to this news should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Sillinger had a great career and did it with class all the way. I wish him all the best, and if he can’t come back I eagerly anticipate the announcement he’s signed on with the Islanders as a coach and is opening 505’s Trottier/Sillinger centerman academy. Maybe Numminen deserves the Masterson too, but I would at least nominate Sillinger for showing the heart that he did in trying to help the team.
Jon your way off base. By your logic there should no award of any kind. Professional Sports atheletes make a lot of money. Thanks for the newsflash!
Silli does embody the mesnaing of what the Masteron Trophy is all about. Whether he’s making 2 million, 10 million or 9 bucks an hour at Mickey Dee’s.
Jon- I hope your as pissed if/when they give an award to Crosby at the end of this season, he’s making a lot more than Silli.
A couple of my buddies have sons who play youth hockey here on LI with Silli’s son, and they tell me Mike and his wife are down-to-earth, first class people. Hopefully he will play again, but if not we were fortunate to have him here with the NYI.
Play your violins a little more boys and girls. Sillinger is a hockey player that makes a lot of money to play the game. Give me a few million a year, and I would play after a hip surgery too. A guy I work with has 4 herniated discs in his back, yet he hasn’t missed a day of work in 10 years. He’s in construction. No awards for that, no violins being played for him. I don’t care if he’s an Islander, I don’t get emotional for athletes/millionaires.
Hope he’s not done and can get healthy, but if it is over for him, I’d love to see him stay with the team as a coach or in some other capacity. He’s always seemed like a great guy from everything I’ve ever read or heard about him.
I wish that Sillinger can manage to play 14 more games. Id love for him to be most tenured right here with the Islanders. He is such a good guy.
jon…on a construction message board, I’m sure there’d be accolades for your co-worker. But on a hockey board, I don’t see how it’s out of place to give a nod to a guy who wants to be out there playing hockey, and plays hard when he is out there, even through injuries. There are too many guys in the league who just collect a paycheck and mail it in, and Sillinger’s not one of those. Ditto Witt. Nothing wrong with acknowledging the effort and professionalism of certain players on the team you follow, regardless of how much they make, imo.
Belated Message!
Happy New Year to the Botta’s!!!
And a Note to Chris Dey and Charles Wang!
The best decision you made for this Season was Botta’s Point Blank! Dont screw it up next year this Blog has been the Best thing since the “Heals and Flats show”…………KUDOS CB!!!
Jon is being silly.
There are many examples of players that also get millions to play this game and dog it, whether they are injured or not. A number of them were Islanders.
Using the logic of his paycheck is faulty. It would have been much, much easier and healthier for Sillinger to sit out, while collecting his guaranteed millions. His attempt to comeback and help this Team actually hurt his chances to get a NHL contract next season.
Sillinger would get his millions whether or not he tried to play after his hip surgery. He chose to play and he deserves big kudos for that.
I am proud that Sillinger was an Islander during his great career and he certainly should be considered for the Masterton. I will always be a fan of his for how he lead and performed for this Team.
In my opinion, among the various reasons why Silli wanted to come back after this major surgery are his love for the sport and the desire to go out on his terms rather than being forced out. If the world was perfect, we would all be able to live our lives on our own terms. Doesn’t work that way - unfortunately. Maybe the same magic performed on Mike Comrie and other injured Islanders in Edina, Minnesota, can get Silli back on the ice.
talk about garth doing his job. this is off-topic but: weight is tied for second in the league for pp points and streit is tied for all dmen for points
All the best to Mike Sillinger whatever the outcome. Thanks for your professionalism and dedication to the Islanders. Your skill at faceoffs and mentoring of our younger players was worth your weight in gold. Good luck to you and your family wherever the road takes you.
Great point. Snow has done a great job this off-season with FAs, especially since most free agents don’t want to play for this Team or live on Long Island. Getting Streit at his contact was a masterstroke.
Mike Sillinger is a true hero and role model in todays to quick to the IR for todays babied sports players. I can understand why the Isles and so many other teams have given the “man” so many chance to play on their roster throughout the years. He`s nothing but been one of the classiest players i`ve had the pleasure of watching compete night after night. My 5 year old son tries to emmit his work ethic and i thank Mr. Sillinger for his many games he`s been able to enjoy. The Islanders should instantly offer him a coaching job if this trully the end for him. I`m sure Mike will have no trouble at coaching if he projects 1/2 the class and tonasity he did on the ice behind the bench. Hopefully it is going be ours.
Thank You Mike
sillinger looks like a very approachable person
I can definately see him behind an nhl bench -hopefully ours if indeed the comeback is over .
thanks for the hustle mike
Like CB said, he didn’t have to play at all and still would have collected his money, but he got out there and gave it a go and played and not to mention he also went down to bridgeport for re-conditioning, which some guys at his level wouldn’t even consider, but he did, because he’s a class act, he loves the game, wants to be there for his teammates and when he was on the ice he worked it! always gave his all, it’s a shame he had to have this happen, hip injuries are so tough to come back from, I think had this not happen to him he could have gone on to play for several more years setting some sort of records despite his age, look at Chris Chelios, dudes 46 and still knocking em out, I believe he’s the oldest NHLer.
I’m sad to hear this news. Mike is a class act and is a true Islander. I wish him and his family nothing but the best.
A true hockey players, hockey player.
He was that Ted Nolan type guy, always working, hard nosed guy.
Did all of the little things well. Not the most skilled but fundamentally sound.
Good luck to Silli
GO ISLES
I am hoping you are dead wrong on Sillinger playing his last game Botta. With luck (and a few prayers) Sillinger will be able to play a few more (healthy) games before he hangs ‘em up for good. Yes, Class act all the way. And that sort of man is hard to find.
Its good to see Sillinger get his due on here today. Every year there are players who unceremoniously leave the NHL for various reasons. Mostly good guys who may not have played for your team but you knew their names. Unless they’re a retiring superstar, you usually don’t realize that you won’t be seeing them play anymore. So hats off to Sillinger if he’s played his last game. He got to see a lot of the NHL but I think, in the end, he found a home with the Islanders.
Class guy, he deserves it no doubt.
I’m hoping that Silli’s injury is just a complication with swelling … and that he can finish out his career according to HIS plan .. and not is doctor’s … either way … Silli earned his stripes and the respect of every hockey player, fand and anyone else involved in hockey … he’s a true old school warrior .. which made him a joy to watch no matter what uniform he was wearing … I just feel fortunate that he got to wear the orange and blue.
God I hope you’re wrong about this. My son and I always thought Mike should have been named Captain. Wang should make him teach the rest of the team how to win a faceoff.
I would like Sillinger to be one of our coaches. Too bad he wont be playing he was a great 2 way player who always worked hard. He was a leader and great on faceoffs. he made a nice career for himself.
Sillinger is class act, a recent game against Philly, his faceoff win % was something like 80%. A big part of the game that does not get much attention.
Do you think Canadian fans finally acknowledge that letting Streit go and not giving him a chance on defense was a mistake yet?
I haven’t been posting much, but Sills is definitely worth a few words. His picture should be right below teh definition of HOCKEY PLAYER in the dictionary.
We may not see him again on Colly ice, but we would be very fortunate if one of our prospects turns out to be a “Sillinger-like” player.
Good luck in whatever you do next year Mike… hopefully it will be with the Islanders… but hanging in your ski lodge prolly wouldn’t be so bad either.
How did the US just get beat by Slovakia? Answer: Good Goaltending
Don’t you guys call it quit on Sillinger!
He’ll be back. And thanks to 7thWoman, TuxTax, and others for shearing my thoughts. Don’t put the Man on the shelf until he does it himself.
Happy New Year to everybody and CB!!!
Hopefully Mr. Botta is wrong on this one. I always liked Sillinger. He is anther guy I wish could have played for the Isles longer.
I don’t understand this demoting Mitch Fritz at this point in time. All 4 teams they are playing have heavyweights and lesser fighters that Tim Jackman just is not a match for.
I don’t understand Jon Sim NOT being demoted. Also, Pock, it is about time to bring up Hillen. I wonder with him being a UFA after this summer how he’ll feel about resigning with the Isles when Pock has unfairly gotten the ice time ahead of he and others?
well hillen should bulk up a little and improve his game in the ahl and i am sure he will resign and i totally agree with you strummer about fritz.
although jackman vs carcillo should be cool. stortini,shelley, roy, are all guys that will pound on us. remember what shelley did to us last year. not to mention all those teams have a lot of middleweights. plus the bad blood with theyotes from last year with DP punching doan. good times. hopefully a good game today! cant wait. CB, you should have a game-day chat room so we can talk about the going-ons during the game.
So we’re throwing dirt on Sil? It’s over for him?
Sillinger is probably the classiest, hardest working player to come through here in many many years. Should definitely become a coach.
All players should follow his lead. A true leader on and off the ice.
Good luck to #18
WHY IS RICKY PLAYING??? !!!
I WILL BET ANYONE PAYCHECK VS. PAYCHECK HE IS HURT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH!!
BAILEY WITH HIS FIRST!!!!!!!!!
Sillinger is the type of player that makes the NHL what it is…tough, 2 way player who would compete with any faceoff man in NHL history…plus he’s a good Canadian boy…(doesnt hurt that he’s from my hometown…)
God bless him with whatever he chooses to do, and as far as the millions he’s made…battling as hard as he does in the fastest hardest hitting sport known to man for this many years without any serious injuries until the end…he deserves every cheque ever signed by the NHL…
cheers Silly!